The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-04
TRUE souTHRoN AND PATRIOT.
Memorial on the Life and Character
of Hon. ID. Wyatt Aiken, by Rev.
ID. E. Frierson, ID. D., of Anderson.

The family, the friends and the country,
monrn over the death of Col. D. Wyatt Ak
en- our late Congressman who died on the otn
day of april at the age of 90 tho whole
country gather around the sacred precincts
Of family's grief and seek to express cor
responding appreciation. Our Congressional
Chieftain has laid down his arms. but not In
defeat or surrender. He fought the campaign
of the statesman 10 the uttermost border oi
the time and territory which Providence naa
assigned him, and only laid down bis arms
when he had finished the work which had
been given him to do. He laid down the arms
of an earnest and powerful! eloqnence, Oh
clear, direct and forcible logic; OF an honeSt,
independent and patriotic conviction. we
have heard him beneath the shade OF the lor-
est, and before the IN asses OF the people, when
he would fling aside all circumlocution, an
flowers of diction, and with simple, lneisive
man understand him: we nave reaq liz Inc
speeches that rang in the Congressional nails,
an the same current Of irresistible logic ran
astIcai counsels Of his brethren, and then,
too, he always stood the advocate Of q manly
and righteous policy.
camp paign that was no less honorable to his
heart than to his head. He disdained the
arts and the arms of the partisan, the trick
ster and the pettyfogger, and met every op-
pendent and honest man. And If these argu,
ments were the smooth sling stones selected
from the brook of a pure AngloSaxon, woe
TO the pomp9us Goliath VINO Gonieonseu mr. ni,
the noble generosity which for6ore TO attack
with the satire or the innuendo. lie fought,
not men, but measures, and no ungenerouS
insinu uations could draw him down from that
high and honorable platform OF argument
INTO the lower plane of political gymnasts.
While he was true southern man, ne was
ever the advocate or those broad naIionaI
policies which involved the more enduring
interests Of the South, and declined the loca
popularity which a mere sectional interest,"
might have won for him. He would not In
volve his constituency and his beloved south
In peurile antagonism to the Union, or make
her untrue to her pledges OF Federal loyalty.
He, therefore occasionally encountered an
adverse gale Of criticism; but It passed oy
him as the idle wind which he regarded not.
Time and events have vindicated his wisdom
and his patriotism.
The great statesman mas now, also, laid
down his trust, and we are iree 10 say ;,a1 Una.
and OF the whole nation Is, "Wcll done, good
and faithful servant
The great Presbyter has now, also, laid
down his trust, and were the sense OF his col
voiced, 1t would be the unanimous plaudlt,
"Well done! good and faithful servant" 1t
was with pride that we listened to him speak.
ing in behalf Of truth and Righteousness. He
loved the church, he loved her gates, he loved
her ministry, and from his high position he
could and did administer to them we'll
timed counsel. Who will take up now the
fallen trident OF him that sleeps and remind
US OF our official responsibilities? Who
among the Ruling Elders Of the Presbyterian
church will lift up the mantle Of the departed
Ruler, and discharge the duty Of the friend
and mentor?
In every department of duty, in the church.
the State, or the nation, whether as states
man, citizen, or Christian, whether as ruler
in his family or Ruler in the house OF God I,
as husband, neighbor, father, he was found